Talking Sports with former NFL player Hollis Thomas

Hollis Thomas, a former NFL player with the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Carolina Panthers, recently took time to do an interview with The Capital Sports Report. His interview is about his football career.

Hollis Thomas (Getty Images)

TCSR: You have been retired for a few years. What have you been doing since your retirement?

HT: “I’ve been chilling really. I have a youth football league out in Las Vegas, which is partnered with USA Football. We have about 11 clubs and 1,500 kids from 5-years-old to 14-years-old in the 8th grade. I’m also doing a lot of youth work, and I’m trying to get into broadcasting.”

TCSR: Being that you are involved with the youth’s, have you thought about getting into coaching?

HT: “No, I’m about to join the WIP team in Philadelphia. I would also like to bring the youth football camps from Las Vegas to this area. I want to teach the offensive and defensive lineman some skills. It seems like technique is a lost art these days.”

TCSR: Do you have to change your mindset from being a player to an analyst?

HT: “No, we used to analyze everybody in the film room during our playing days. It is the same thing as when the coaches asked us for our opinion during those film sessions. Instead of telling the coach your opinion, you are telling your audience your thoughts. And there are times that they might not always agree with you.”

TCSR: A lot of former players are becoming analysts for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, ESPN, WIP, etc. Why do you think they are becoming apart of the media?

HT: “It allows many of us to stay involved in the game that we love so much. Since we can’t play anymore, many of us has to do something to stay involved in the game. And for many of us, it is to be a part of the media and to be an analyst.”

TCSR: What are your thoughts on the current Philadelphia Eagles team?

HT: “They should have an awesome year and team. I like their team, and it is going to be interesting to see how they do in their second year under Juan Castillo. He took a lot of heat last year, moving from the offensive line to the defensive coordinator role, which he had never done in the NFL before. They have a very good offense and some quick hitters, like DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. It is going to be up to the defense to keep the opponents off the scoreboard.”

TCSR: You also played significant time with the New Orleans Saints.. Do you still keep in touch with many of those guys?

HT: “Yeah, it was a great situation when I went down there. Some of the guys were just coming in, like myself, from previous teams to their already good nucleus, lead by Drew Brees. We actually didn’t have a stadium until that Monday night game (against the Atlanta Falcons on September 25th, 2006). We had to be a road team leading up to the Saints coming back home. I was there for three years, and had such an amazing time.”

TCSR: You were teammates with the aforementioned Drew Brees. What were your thoughts on his holdout?

HT: “He had to do what was best for his family. Some people said what he was doing was wrong, but they don’t understand that your career in the NFL could end in an instant. And once you are declining, you are just a piece of meat to the owners, who want to let you go. He had to strike while the iron’s hot, so to speak.”